Aerial elevator.



J. A. SCOTT.

AERIAL ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1909.

943,572. Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

. Unuzwlkoz whims UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JOHN A. SCOTT, OF ROOSEVELT, OKLAHOMA.

AERIAL ELEVATOR.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. Soon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roosevelt, in the county of Kiowa and State of Oklahoma,have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial Elevators, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in aerial elevators, being moreparticularly directed to the use of such elevator in con necting tospires, cupolas or other ordinarily inaccessible places a support forthe use of workmen in repairing or painting the same.

The main object of the present invention is the use of an aerialelevating element with which a support is removably connected, theelevator being provided with directing means so that it, together withthe support, may be properly positioned with relation to the spire orcupola and the support released when in proper position to engage saidspire or cupola and form a hanger to which the usual cables for carryingthe scaffolding or the like may be connected.

The invention will be described in the following specification,reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure 1 is a view in elevation, illustrating the device, thesupporting element being shown as having been released from the elevatorand in position on the spire. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing thesupporting element connected with the carrier.

Referrring particularly to the accompanying drawings, my improvementcomprehends the use of a buoy carrier 1, such as a small balloon or thelike, which, for the purpose of the present invention, is provided witha ring 2 which may or may not form a part of the cage-like structure ofthe balloon from which ring depends what I term guide or controllingcables 3. These cables are so connected to the ring 2 that from thesurface of the ground the position of the buoy carrier may be accuratelydetermined or ad justed at will.

For use with the carrier 1 and as a means for more or less permanentlyengaging the spire or cupola to be repaired I provide a ring 4:,hereinafter termed the supporting member and, of course, of such size asto readily pass over the upper end of the spire and of such strength asto readily support the necessary apparatus. This ring is pref-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July '16, 1909.

Patented Dec. 1st, 1969.

Serial No. 508,067.

erably provided with a series of sheaves 5 through which are passedelevating cables 6.

In initial operation the supporting element 4 is secured to the ring 2of the carrier by means of the cable 7, preferably by wrapping one endof the cable 7 about the supporting element and ring 2 and connectingsaid end to the remaining section of the cable by an ordinary bow-knot8, so arranged that it may be readily released by that section of thecable 7 which depends from the carrier to the ground. After thusconnecting the supporting element the carrier is released and by meansof the guide cables 3 is directed so that it is immediately above theupper end of the spire. It is then drawn down until the spire passesthrough, to some extent at least, the supporting element 4:, whereuponthe cable 7 is operated to release the supporting element 4: from thecarrier ring 2, permitting said element to fall until it reaches aposition on the spire or cupola where it is retained by impinging thewalls of said part. The cables 6 are then drawn upon, having beenpreviously connected to scaffold ladders or other supporting apparatus9. Such apparatus is then drawn to an appropriate point on the edificeto be prepared and the work proceeded with. When it is desired to removethe device the carrier is again directed above the spire and drawn downuntil one of the workmen on the scaffolding apparatus can secure thesupporting element to the ring of the carrier. The workman returns tothe surface of the ground, the scaffolding apparatus is lowered and thepulley upon the carrier released, causing the latter to elevate thesupporting element 4 from the spire and beyond the same after which itmay be readily drawn to the ground.

The connection of the supporting element to the ring of the carrier maybe of any desired form, requiring only that it be capable of releasefrom the surface of the ground. The device is particularly effective asthe only weight required to be lifted thereby is that of the sheaves andof the cable 6, and so far as the latter are concerned very light cordmay be initially used and the supporting cable 6 secured to said cordsand drawn through the sheaves after the supporting element is inposition. Of course, the supporting element 4: is in an appropriate formfor the use to which it is to be put, that is it may be a ring or arectangular section, or even a hook to engage a projection on theedifice, as the salient feature of the present invention resides in theconnection between a buoyant carrier and an element designed to engagean elevated structure to support scaffolding or other working apparatuswhich connection is releasable at will from a remote point, the elevatedcarrier being capable of control and guidance from a remote point.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. An aerial elevator comprising a buoyantcarrier, a supporting elementadapted to engage an elevated structure, means for directing the carrierfrom a remote point, means for connecting said supporting element to thecarrier, and means for releas ing the connecting means from a remotepoint.

2. An aerial elevator comprising a buoyant carrier, means for directingsaid carrier from a remote point, a structure engaging supportingelement, and means operable from a remote point for removably connecting said element and carrier.

3. An aerial elevator comprising a buoyant carrier, a ring connectedtherewith, guide cables extending from the ring, a structure engagingsupporting element, means for removably connecting said element to thering and carrier, and cable sheaves carried by the element.

at. A11 aerial elevator comprising a buoyant carrier, directing cablessecured to the carrier to direct the latter from a remote point, astructure engaging supporting ele ment, cable sheaves carried by theelement, cables passed through said sheaves, and a cable securing thesupporting element to the carrier, said cable being operable from a.remote point to release the cable from the carrier.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. SCOTT.

\Vitnesses WV. T. COUCH, M. HOLLAND.

